Yoke Of Love

Corporate Enemy

That same Saturday night, Mr. Hollywood McQueen sent an email message to Lola Abolaji about his interview he had had with Kolawole on Saturday at the Ikeja Exclusive Club with an instruction to print out the email message and share it with every member of the interview panel.

In that email message, Kolawole’s employment was already decided, sealed and delivered at the Exclusive Club Ikeja by the Managing Director of Dulux paints Ltd. The next Monday morning, Kolawole arrived at Ikeja Dulux Paints Ltd at nine thirty; he was dressed in a dark blue three piece-suit with a white shirt and a dark blue neck-tie; his real leather black shoes added glamour to his pleasant personality that Monday morning.

The Receptionist knew why he came, and after he signed the visitor’s booklet, he was asked to go straight to Mrs. Lola’s office; and when he entered Madam Lola’s office; she whistled loudly in excitement, and she exclaimed; “Wao wao Kolawole, you look like a movies’ star who occupied the front page of a Vogue Magazine!”

The young man bowed slightly for Madam Lola, and said with pleasant smile; “Thank you Madam Lola for your compliment, I appreciate your support Mam.” Some minutes later, Lola picked up a file on her table and walked out of her office, she instructed Kolawole to remain in her office until a Messenger would come to fetch him for the interview.

At the Boardroom, the General Manager, Mr. Thomas PamPam, the Purchasing Manager, Mr. Segun Olusoga, and the Company Secretary, Mrs. Ayo Oseni, were already seated in the Boardroom before Madam Lola stepped into the room.

After all the formalities; Madam Lola gave everyone of them a copy of the email message which the Managing Director sent to her regarding the interviewee. Thirty minutes later, a Messenger came to fetch Kolawole for the interview, the Messenger led the Applicant to the Boardroom, and before Kolawole stepped into the cool Boardroom, he was apprehensive of what would happen to him in that room and he prayed silently before he walked into the boardroom.

The Applicant was offered a seat facing the four interviewers. Kolawole noticed there were a white man, one unfriendly looking man; one Executive looking woman and Madam Lola in that Boardroom.

The calm looking white man introduced himself as the General Manager Mr. Thomas PamPam, and he also introduced the rest people in the Boardroom; the unfriendly looking man was the Purchasing Manager Mr. Segun Olusoga, the officious looking woman was the Company Secretary Mrs. Ayo Oseni, and of course the Personal Assistant to the Managing Director Mrs. Lola Abolaji was also introduced to him formally.

“Mr. Kolawole Adegbola, What is your relationship with the Managing Director?” The GM asked looking at the young man straight in the face. Kolawole had somehow calmed himself down before he answered; “Thank you sir, I don’t have any personal relationship with the MD except Mr. Steward Buckit; a British friend I met few months ago.”

The Company Secretary Mrs. Ayo Oseni who was a qualified Lawyer looked up from the file she was reading and asked; “And what is your relationship with Mr. Steward Buckit?” Kolawole was very attentive before that question came, he looked at the Executive woman shyly and answered quietly; “Thank you Madam, a couple of months ago; I was feeling bored with my jobless situation on one fateful Saturday morning, and the idea of swimming came into my mind to wash away my boredom; I came to Ikeja hotel swimming section; paid for two hours duration at the pool; and after I changed into a swimming pants, I dived from the highest platform over the pool into the deepest part of the pool which attracted the attention of some white people including Mr. Steward Buckit; the white man later introduced himself to me immediately I came out of the pool, and we became friends thereafter.”

Madam Lola looked sharply at the young man and asked; “Does that means you are a good swimmer Mr. Kolawole Adegbola?” The Applicant smiled for the first time since he came into the Boardroom, and he replied looking at his folded hands; “Thank you madam, I cannot judge myself whether I am a good swimmer or not, but the fact is that I learnt how to swim in a big flowing river with strong current in my hometown Ijebu-Aiyepe; therefore, swimming in a deep pool of stagnant water is like a piece of cake to me.”

The General Manager busted into laughter, and the Company Secretary as well as Madam Lola joined him except the Purchasing Manager Mr. Segun Olusoga who disliked the charming young man for getting along smoothly with the Executives in the Boardroom.

The unfriendly Purchasing Manager coughed lightly just to get their attention; and when he noticed that their laughter had subsided considerably, he asked; “Excuse me Mr. PamPam, I wish to ask the Applicant some questions relating to our purchasing and Supply Department sir.”

The General Manager looked at Segun Olusoga searchingly, and to his surprise; he discovered the purchasing Manager was looking insecure because of the way every other persons in the Boardroom apparently liked the young Applicant; every other person in the boardroom wished to employ the young Applicant except Segun Olusoga who would be the immediate boss to the young man.

Segun Olusoga would have been sacked from that company few months before then for his unruly behaviors to the Managing Director; but the Management allowed him to remain in the company because the purchasing Manager was the son of one of the major share holders of the public quoted organization.